A Boulder man accused of trying to strangle a Boulder officer after she tried to place him in handcuffs in February has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and is set for trial in September, according to court officials.

Matthew Tello, 24, will stand trial on one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault on Sept. 23. The first-degree assault charge is a Class 3 felony, while the second-degree assault charges are Class 4 felonies.

Tello also is facing misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and criminal mischief.

According to prosecutors, on the night of Feb. 17, Tello was on his bicycle with a friend riding on the handlebars in the 3200 block of 28th Street. A witness said that while she was pulling out of the parking lot, Tello's passenger got off the bicycle and began banging his hands on the car, before circling around to the right side of the vehicle and kicking the front passenger-side door, causing significant damage. Tello and the other man then left the area, and witnesses called police.

The witness said Tello later came back to look for his wallet before leaving the scene again.

Shortly after officers aired a description of the suspects, Officer Beth McNalley saw Tello on his bicycle in a dirt lot in the 2600 block of 28th Street and attempted to contact him. According to police reports, Tello began swearing at her, and McNalley attempted to put Tello in handcuffs, fearing he was either going to run or fight her.

McNalley was able to put one handcuff on Tello's left wrist, but he grabbed her neck and began squeezing with his right hand. McNalley was able to press her emergency button on her radio and told Tello twice she would shoot him if he did not let go. At one point she was able to knock his hand away from her throat, but he again grabbed her.

Another officer arrived on scene and observed the female officer and Tello fighting, and was able to tackle Tello and handcuff him even as he continued to resist arrest, according to the report. The officer noted McNalley started coughing and had an unusually raspy voice.

McNalley was taken to Boulder Community Hospital, and had red marks on her neck and pain swallowing.

Tello is described as 5-foot-10 while McNalley is about 5-foot-1. On scene, Tello told officers, "I'm drunk, it's my birthday," according to the report. Officers noted his speech was slurred and they also found a flask containing what appeared to be alcohol.

Tello, who is free on bond, is scheduled for a motions hearing on Sept. 4

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